SNL's Biden Gets Upstaged by Tian Tian the Panda in Cold Open

Just on Friday, U.S. military bases bore the brunt of three attacks in both Iraq and Syria, according to a report from the AP. The ongoing clashes have raised concerns that the U.S. may inadvertently set off a wider escalation, as opposed to the intended goal of deterring attacks on American forces in the region. While the U.S. has been able to counterattack without a massive escalatory response from Iran so far, the back-and-forth-and ongoing attacks against U.S. forces in the region-paves the way for possible accidents and misinterpretation. "If U.S. service members were God forbid killed in an attack, the U.S. may feel it has to ratchet up its response further, potentially to include directly targeting IRGC personnel, which the administration has not done thus far." "One of the stated goals of the Biden administration's attacks on Iran-linked targets is to prevent spillover of Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza."The president has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today's action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement on Sunday. "Iran is walking a fine line here where they, on the one hand, want to maintain pressure on the U.S., including in response to U.S. support for Israel in Gaza, but they don't want a regional war themselves," Finucane said. As of late March, Iran and its proxy forces had attacked U.S. forces 83 times since President Joe Biden took office, according to Task and Purpose. In response to questions about why the Department of Defense views its counterstrikes as successful given the attacks against U.S. forces continue, the Pentagon insisted Tuesday that the continued attacks against U.S. troops are a "Separate issue" from deterring Iran.